Match action during the Second Division League encounter Mohammedan Sporting Club v NEROCA FC. (Photo courtesy: Mohammedan Sporting Club)
Manvir Singh and Vanlalbiaa Chhangte struck in the either halves to down NEROCA FC 2-0 as Mohammedan Sporting Club grabbed their first win in the 2016/17 Second Division League at Barasat Stadium on Friday.
The win left Mohammedan SC on second spot in the Group B with three points from two games, while NEROCA are on third with same number of points from as many game.
Going into the game Mohammedan Sporting coach Ranjan Chowdhury made three changes from the side that lost to Southern Samity last weekend. While Sayan Roy replaced Sankar Roy under the bar, Atinder Mani and Dipendu Dowary came at the expenses of Vanlalbiaa and Imran Khan.
The hosts started brighter of the two sides and created a couple of close chances early on but lack of finishing in the final third denied the Black Panthers an early lead.
Leonce Dodoz was the first to go close in the 6th minute for Mohammedan SC but his effort from Pranit Lama’s cross was misdirected from close distance.
Six minutes later, Mohammedan Sporting surged ahead when Manvir slotted home after the NEROCA FC defense failed to clear Niteesh Chhikara’s low cross.
However, NEROCA FC did not lag behind as they gave good account of themselves and created a couple of moves but failed to convert them into goals.
Mohammedan SC continued to dictate terms after the change of ends and had two early chances to swell the score but Dodoz and Dowary failed in their efforts.
The hosts increased their lead in the 79th minute with some brilliant play. Pranit’s low corss was flicked into Vanlalbiaa’s path by Dodoz and the winger did well to beat NEROCA keeper Lalit Thapa with a easy tap in.
Meanwhile, NEROCA tried to fight their way back and carved a couple of chances towards the closing stages of the game but the Mohammedan SC defense along with their keeper Sayan proved a hard nut to crack, which saw Mohammedan SC maintain their 100% win record over NEROCA FC at home.
Mohammedan Sporting Club will now travel to Delhi to take on Hindustan FC on February 5, 2017.
(Mohammedan Sporting Club Press Release)